Case Glossary

The adding of genetic information from other species. In most cases the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples include resistance to pests, diseases or environmental conditions, resistance to herbicides, novel traits such as flower colour or enhanced vase life or the production of a certain nutrient or pharmaceutical agent.

Goods include:

1. An animal.

2. A plant.

3. Any other article, substance or thing (including, but not limited to, any kind of moveable property); and, to avoid doubt, includes mail of any kind and ballast water.

The department will assess the application and on the basis of that assessment may decide to grant an import permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use and disposal of those products.

It should be noted that applying for an import permit does not automatically result in an import permit being issued. The Director of biosecurity or their delegate issues the import permit. You should ensure that an application is submitted for each product type and that the prescribed fee accompanies the import permit application.

Nursery stock is defined as all propagative plant material, other than seeds, imported for purposes of propagation.

It may include: budwood, bulbils, bulbs, corms, cuttings, grafting wood, leaves, pips, plants, rhizomes, roots, seedlings, slips, stems, tissue cultures, tubers and any other tissue imported for purposes of propagation.

It does not include propagative plant material imported for purposes other than propagation.

The only exception to the above are germinated palm seeds, other than coconuts. Provided they have been propagated in an inert medium and have sprouts no more than 2.5 cm long, and the leaves have not expanded, they may be treated as seeds and released after inspection.